Subtitled A Hercule Poirot Novel, Black Coffee is actually an Agatha Christie play recrafted as a book meant to be read rather than seen on the stage. The story was first produced in 1930, and Charles Osborne has done little to it except string the dialogue and stage directions together in paragraph form. Christie loyalists will welcome and applaud his dedication to the original, but it does seem as though he could have given it a bit more flair. Still, Poirot himself, bumbling Captain Hastings, and obsequious George are all in good form and it is amusing to find them engaged in another adventure, with an interesting assortment of possible murderers, blackmailers, and innocent (if suspicious) bystanders.

The novel opens as Poirot receives a summons at his breakfast table from England's premier physicist, Sir Claud Amory. Busy working on a new formula necessary for England's defense in the Second World War, Amory suspects a member of his household of espionage. Of course, by the time Poirot and sidekick Hastings arrive at the scientist's country house, he is suddenly and mysteriously dead. Amory himself turns out to have been not quite nice, and his family, regardless of his scientific efforts, is pretty pleased with the new state of affairs. Still, Poirot manages both to save the more amiable members of the household from themselves and to protect the secrets of the British Empire. The novel is warmly evocative of another time and place and a welcome reminder of vintage Christie. --K.A. Crouch

From Publishers Weekly
Christie biographer Osborne's adaptation of the grande dame's 1930 play has been blessed by the Christie estate and heartily endorsed by her grandson Michael Prichard. It's a classic "someone in this room is the murderer" tale set in 1934. Scientist Sir Claud Amory invites Hercule Poirot to his estate to collect a formula for a new atomic explosive. Prior to Poirot's arrival, Sir Claud discovers the formula is missing from his safe. He offers the thief one minute of darkness to return it but, when the lights come on again, Sir Claud is dead. That's when Poirot arrives on the scene and takes matters in hand. An empty vial of sleeping pills is discovered, and someone in the room at the time of Sir Claud's death was seen with the tablets. Was Sir Claud murdered by his son Richard, who is in deep debt? Or was it espionage involving Lucia, Richard's Italian wife with a mysterious past and a connection to guest Dr. Carelli? Perhaps Sir Claud's secretary, Edward Raynor, or the spinster sister Caroline is guilty. Poirot, with "methods very much his own," aided by Captain Hastings, is lively and stimulating, like a fine black coffee, in this welcome addition to the Christie canon. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
YA-Agatha Christie's grandson has adapted her play Black Coffee into a novel. Sir Claud, physicist for the government in the early days of World War II, suspects that someone may steal the military secrets he has developed and asks Hercule Poirot to visit. However, before the detective arrives, Sir Claud is murdered. Poirot skillfully and methodically interviews the witnesses and then unmasks the villain. As the characters' emotions are revealed through speech and actions, readers will feel as though they are watching a play. The plot is simpler than those found in many of Christie's novels, making this a good choice to introduce YAs to the writer. This fast-paced story is a good choice for procrastinating teens who must read a novel overnight.Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Originally written as a three-act play in 1930, this novel has been adapted by Osborne. All the old characters are present, including the parental tyrant, the eccentric maiden aunt, mysterious foreigners, and "bright young things." Once again detective Hercule Poirot has been called in to solve a country house crime; he interviews each suspect, talks a lot, and solves the case. The play was probably a "nice bit of fluff," and the book is the same, plumped up by descriptions that sometimes read as though they were lifted directly from stage directions. On the other hand, much of the dialog sparkles with true Christie panache. Alexandra Thomas's vibrant reading is only slightly marred by problems with Poirot's "Belgian" inflection. Alas, while Black Coffee is an interesting addition to the "classic" mystery canon, it probably should not be a high priority purchase when compared with the many superior Christie audiobooks (e.g., Murder on the Orient Express, Audio Reviews, LJ 4/1/94) that are available. Recommended for large mystery collections or those with a heavy demand for the "classics.?I. Pour-El, Iowa State Univ., AmesCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Hercule Poirot appears for his final performance. Originally written by Agatha Christie in 1930 as a three-act play, BLACK COFFEE has been adapted into a novel, the first to appear in over twenty years. Again we find Hercule Poirot exercising his "little gray cells" after he is invited to a physicist's home in the English countryside, only to find him dead upon his arrival. Alexandra Thomas masterfully pilots this performance. Always in control, flawless and effective, she brings us the Belgian Poirot, the Italian spy and his reluctant accomplice; the giddy niece and suspicious nephew; and many other colorful characters. This entertaining performance should not be missed, as this novel is considered to be pure "Agatha Christie." B.J.P. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
The appearance of a new Agatha Christie novel 20 years after her death? Yes and no. Black Coffee was originally written in 1930 as a three-act play featuring Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Successfully produced on the West End, it became a favorite of repertory companies. One of the amateur players was Charles Osborne, author of The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie. Osborne was given permission by Christie's literary executors to turn the play into a novel. For the most part, he has succeeded rather well. Christie fans will delight in seeing Poirot back at the height of his little-gray-celled powers and will enjoy revisiting one of Christie's classic English country houses, occupied by a host of suspects, all content to sit quietly while Poirot's mind works. Every once in a while--mostly when stage directions have clearly been turned into narrative--the book seems to shout, "Hey, I used to be a play!" Although jarring, these lapses don't spoil the special pleasures of once more settling down with an Agatha Christie mystery. Ilene Cooper

From Kirkus Reviews
A brand-new Agatha Christie novel based on material nearly 70 years old. Christies biographer Osborne has adapted the legendary web-spinner's first play (1929) to novel length, exhuming Hercule Poirot and Captain Arthur Hastings (who, operating here as Poirot's sidekick but not his amanuensis, has precious little to do) and preserving the endearingly creaky conventions of Christies whodunit recipe. Noted atomic scientist Sir Claud Amory, on the eve of dispatching his formula for a powerful new explosive to the Ministry of Defense, realizes that someone in his family circle has filched the formula from his safe. Asking Poirot, whom he has already invited to visit him, to move up his arrival time, Sir Claud does the gentlemanly thing by assembling the suspects, telling them what he has discovered, turning out the lights, and inviting the thief to return the formula. Predictably, Poirot and Hastings arrive at the height of this failed experiment, just in time to realize that the thief has not only declined to return the formula but has fatally poisoned Sir Claud. Of the suspectsthe scientist's impecunious son and his Italian wife, Sir Claud's dry-eyed niece and her spinster aunt, his private secretary, and an unexpected house guestOsborne obviously believes the less said the better; and the plot, lacking the conceptual brilliance of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and And Then There Were None, is no more than pleasantly serviceable. Still, the country-house atmosphere is suitably genteel, and the story holds its own with Christie's undistinguished contemporaneous novelsThe Mystery of the Blue Train, The Seven Dials Mystery, and The Murder at the Vicarage. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Book Description
In her first novel to appear in over twenty years, perhaps Agatha Christie's most famous and beloved detective, Hercule Poirot, returns to bring his "little gray cells" to bear on one more case. In the spring of 1934, Poirot is summoned by England's most prominent physicist, Sir Claud Amory. Amory fears that someone in his household is attempting to steal his latest discovery, a formula critical to England's defense. Poirot, with Captain Hastings at his side, rushes to Surrey but arrives too late. Amory has died, his formula is missing, and everyone in this country house, full of relatives and guests, could have been responsible. Originally written by Agatha Christie in 1930 as a three-act play, now adapted as a novel by Charles Osborne (an expert on Christie's life and work), Black Coffee is classic Christie at its finest, sure to delight newcomers and devotees alike.

From the Publisher
A publishing event: The return of Hercule Poirot in the last novel to spring from the imagination of the world's greatest mystery writer.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the first Hercule Poirot novel to appear in over 20 years, perhaps Christie's most famous and beloved detective returns to bring his 'little grey cells' to bear on one more case. In the spring of 1934, Poirot is summoned to Surrey by England's most prominent physicist, Sir Claud Amory. Amory fears that someone in his household is attempting to steal his latest discovery, a formula critical to England's defense. Poirot, with Captain Hastings at his side, rushes to Surrey but arrives too late. Amory has died, his formula is missing, and anyone in this country house, full of relatives and guests, could have been responsible. Originally written by Agatha Christie in 1930 as a three-act play, now adapted as a novel by Charles Osborne (an expert on Christie's life and work as well as a world-renowned theater and opera critic), Black Coffee is class Christie at its finest, sure to delight newcomers and devotees alike.

SYNOPSIS

Beloved detective Hercule Poirot is summoned by a physicist to prevent the theft of a secret formula destined for the Ministry of Defense. By the time he arrives, the formula is missing and the physicist has been poisoned. Now he must find the formula and the killer. Martin's Press.

FROM THE CRITICS

Pam Lambert - People

Coffee's retro flavor is the real deal. . . .for a gracious pick-me-up, it's just what the butler ordered.

Publishers Weekly

Christie biographer Osborne's adaptation of the grande dame's 1930 play has been blessed by the Christie estate and heartily endorsed by her grandson Michael Prichard. It's a classic 'someone in this room is the murderer' tale set in 1934. Scientist Sir Claud Amory invites Hercule Poirot to his estate to collect a formula for a new atomic explosive. Prior to Poirot's arrival, Sir Claud discovers the formula is missing from his safe. He offers the thief one minute of darkness to return it but, when the lights come on again, Sir Claud is dead. That's when Poirot arrives on the scene and takes matters in hand. An empty vial of sleeping pills is discovered, and someone in the room at the time of Sir Claud's death was seen with the tablets. Was Sir Claud murdered by his son Richard, who is in deep debt? Or was it espionage involving Lucia, Richard's Italian wife with a mysterious past and a connection to guest Dr. Carelli? Perhaps Sir Claud's secretary, Edward Raynor, or the spinster sister Caroline is guilty. Poirot, with 'methods very much his own,' aided by Captain Hastings, is lively and stimulating, like a fine black coffee, in this welcome addition to the Christie canon.

Library Journal

Charles Osborne, a theater critic and Christie biographer, has transformed the author's 1930 three-act play into a novel. Christie's many fans will undoubtedly clamor for this 'new' Poirot adventure.

Pam Lambert

Coffee's retro flavor is the real deal. . . .for a gracious pick-me-up, it's just what the butler ordered. -- People

Midwest Book Review